The 10 Best Things to Eat for Under $10 in Boston

Delicious and satisfying meals that won't break the bank

August 5, 2015

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by Scott Kearnan

Eat great; eat cheap. Sometimes it seems like the two can't go together, but we found a few plates around town that pair top quality with a nice price. From a local brand's take on fast food to sophisticated charcuterie, here are 10 choice dishes for under $10.

The Cambridge newcomer, a sibling to Bergamot, has a few charcuterie items that are dense enough to be a small meal on their own. Case in point: the housemade blood sausage, served with chimichurri sauce, tostones (fried plantains) and a fried egg. It's super flavorful — and protein-packed.

Chef Brian Poe has slightly tweaked the game dog trio that greeted guests when he reopened Bukowski Tavern back in January with a new look and elevated menu. At the time, they were served in mini-buns (as originally pictured). Now they're encased in puff pastry (even better!), but inside you'll find the same three unique franks: alligator smoked sausage with cilantro creamed corn sauce, bison with a Sriracha ketchup and jalapeño Dijon, and venison with a relish of chervil, basil, cucumber and tomato.

If you've spent any time in Boston, particularly as a broke college student, you've come to know Anna's very well. But don't get it twisted: the small local chain of Mexican eats still satisfies even those of us who have graduated to more expensive tastes. The 12-inch Super Burrito, filled with meat or veggies, rice, beans, cheese, salsa and hot sauce, is a hearty lunch or dinner if you're caught with a light wallet. And you can stay under $10 even if you add guacamole, sour cream and avocado too.

There are plenty of places to grab a burger for under 10 bucks, but this recently relaunched duo — it amped up its ingredients — gets you a higher-quality spin on a full fast-food meal for a happy price. The quarter-pound O.G. Burger, topped with special sauce, is just $4.25; double that to add fries, onion strings or tater tots. That still leaves room to toss a couple add-ons to your burger (like sautéed mushrooms, roasted red peppers or tomato-jalapeño marmalade) for 50 cents each.

It's a new icon of the Boston food scene, and for good reason. We first discovered Mei Mei's Double Awesome at its mobile kitchen; now the dine-in restaurant means there's always a fixed place to find the scrumptuous scallion pancakes with slow-poached eggs, pesto, cheddar and spicy ketchup.

Score one from the food truck or just swing by Roxy's Allston brick-and-mortar. However you get your mitts around one of these gooey treats, do it fast. The BBQ-braised beef, caramelized onions and fontina cheese conspire to make this the street-food outfit's signature sandwich. Bonus: add a side of Cambridge cult fave Grillo's pickles for two bucks, and you'll still come in at under $10.

For a break from sushi at this Asian-fusion joint, gorge on the half-pound chicken patty burger topped with Vidalia onions, fresh basil and caramelized onions with a spicy basil mayo. Still hungry? It comes with sweet potato tempura "fries" and Asian pickles. Praise you, Monkfish.